Wire-stretcher.



Patented Feb. l2, IQOI. C. E. FRY.

WIRE STRETCHER. A lication filed Mar. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.)

arrow/ 138 m: Noam FEYERS co, PHOTO-UTHO. WASNINGTDN, a. c

CHARLES E. FRY, OF BLOOMFIELD, IOWA.

WlRlE- -STRETCHEH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,043, dated February12, 1901 Application filed March 22,1900. Serial No. 9;716. (No model ToIn whom it 727.097 concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Davis and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in VVireStretchers, ofwhich the following is'a specification, reference being bad therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in wire fences, and moreparticularly relates to devices for tensioning the same.

The object of the invention is to provide in the construction of a wirefence simple and efficient means for taking up the slack therein, as maybe necessary from time to time.

With this and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe improvements is better understood, the invention consists,substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying; drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire fence providedwith the herein-described tensioning means. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof the nut of one of the tension-bolts and a form of wrench which may beemployed for rotating the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation illustrating thewrench applied to the nut, the full lines designating the initialposition of the wrench and the dotted lines the position assumed by thelatter when the nut has been partially rotated.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair ofwire-fence panels, which panels are supported by the usual posts 3, theline-wires of the panels 1 and 2 being suitably connected to said posts,and arranged at the contiguous ends of said panels arevertically-disposed parallel bars 4, the latter being free from theground and not designed to engage therewith. Connecting the bars 4 andloosely fitting in openings formed therein is a series of tension-bolts5, said bolts being each provided with a head 6, and said heads 6 engageand bear againstpne of the bars at, so that the latter will readilyyield to the pressure exerted upon said bolts during the tensioningoperation. A nut 7 is also mounted upon each of the bolts 5 and adaptedto engage and bear against the other bar 4, the

bolts being threaded to engage with said u uts, and each of the latteris provided with a series of outwardly-extending pins or members 8,which pins are arranged in radial relation to the openings of the nuts.

The pins 8 of the nuts 7 are designed to facilitate rotation thereof,and for accomplishing this latter end a wrench or other suitableoperating device 9 may be employed. The form of wrench 9 shown in thedrawings comprises an elongated shank which is provided at suitableintervals with openings 10, and said openings are adapted to receive thepins 8. It will thus be seen that when the wrench 9 is placed inproximity to the nuts 7 and each of the openings 10 caused to receiveone of the pins 8 said wrench is in position to simultaneously rotateall of the nuts 7, and hence a uniform and simultaneous tension isimparted to each of the line-wires; but to prevent the pins 8 notengaged by the wrench contacting with the edge of the latter said wrenchis provided with a series of curved offsets 11, which offsets arearranged adjacent to the openings 10 and extend above the same. Aportion of the pins not engaged will therefore enter said offsets, andthus when the wrench is moved to the position shown by dotted lines, aswhen the nuts are being rotated, the proper manipulation of the wrenchwill be unimpeded.

The manner of tensioning the fence is as follows: The wrench 9 isconnected to the nuts 7, above described, after which downward pressureis exerted upon said wrench, so that the same moves from the positionshown by full lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown by dotted lines. Apartial rotation of the nuts is thus effected, whereupon the wrench isremoved and again placed in the position designated by the full lines,as above described, and by continuing such operation the nuts aregradually screwed upon the bolts 5, thereby drawing the bars 4 nearertogether.

This movement of said bars obviously tightens the line-wires, and theslack therein may thus be readily taken up from time to time.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the form of wrench shownin the drawings is simply disclosed for illustrative purposes to show anoperative means or an operative device for accomplishing the synchronousturning of the nuts; Any equivalent device may be employed, as theWrench bearing against the opposite face of the bar of the other panel,said nuts having members which are adapted to be engaged by a commonoperating device whereby all of the nuts may be turned simultaneously,as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. FRY.

l/Vitnessesz T. F. GRINSTEAD, S. G. W. STOKES.

